Innovative
solutions to the design, management and maintenance of urban
greenspace

Angered
Centrum

Example
of a Park in process of redesign in relation to local
people's demands and of housing regeneration in a relatively
poor area of Gothenburg with a high level of
unemployment

This housing area is at
the end of the tramline. Built as a mini new town in the
days when Gothenburg saw itself expanding fast, the centre
comprises a shopping centre, a theatre and leisure centre,
an upper secondary school, Angereds Gymnanet, which
specialises in dance and the performing arts and is directly
linked with the theatre next door, and 2/3 storey blocks of
flats. These are mainly rented, but a few are private.

The school also
functions as a social centre for all ages in the community -
its meeting rooms, training facilities and café are
well used by all ages. The school provides access courses by
means of a pre-Chalmers University year, designed to
encourage immigrant students to apply for a university
place. The school café is used in the evening as a
local eating place, open to anyone in the
community.

The adjacent housing is
high density and has recently been renovated - there are
small squares, benches to sit on and a children's play area.
Many of the paths are pedestrian only.

The greenspace area near
the school has been designed to be open, following the river
valley. There is a horticultural garden, mainly for growing
vegetables. Animals are also kept.

This area is part of the
ongoing Greenscom
project - an EU sponsored project investigating the
communication of ideas between the different actors involved
in greenspace planning, design, management and
maintenance.